SERCHING FOR

INFORMATION

“The New Literacy Set” Project

The Big 6 is one of the most important process of searching information.

The stage of the Big6TM

SAMPLE

A family is looking for a new pet. They have decided on a dog.

What kind of dog should they get?

Task Definition

Family asks: “What do we need to do?”

Define the information problem.

Identify the information needed to solve the problem.

Information Seeking Strategies

Family asks:“What can we use to find what we need?”

Brainstorm all possible sources.

Select the best sources.

Location and Access

Family asks:“Where can we find what we need?”

Locate sources.

Find information within sources.

Use of Information

Family asks: “What information can I use?”

Engage (read, hear, view or touch).

Take out needed information

Synthesis

Family asks: “How can we put our information together?”

Organize information from all sources.

Make a decision. Create a product or performance.)

The Product - Our Choice

The Pug GentleFriendlyGood with kidsShort hairedQuiet

Cat sizedIntelligentLong livedEasily trainedCUTE!!!

Evaluation

Family asks: “How will we know if we did well?”

Judge the product (are we happy with our new pet?).

Judge the process (efficiency).

General tips

Avoid getting lost in the searchKnow what is the starting pointFocus on what we are looking forRealizing a search planSelecting the most important information

◦Relevance◦Audience◦Rigour, credibility and reliability

Knowing how to store and retrieve information

Search skills

Knowing where to find information.Knowing what information you need -

understanding your topic and knowing the key concepts you should research.

Knowing how to search the sources.Recording your searches, so that you have

an "audit trail".

TYPE OF SOURCES

Primary source

It provides data that has not yet been prepared by anyone.

Secondary source

It is information that already exists, that is available when the need for using arises.

Depending on where information comes from, the sources might be:

• Internal: these are developed by the users themselves. They are sources found in the company or institution.

• External: these are found outside the company or institution. For example, on the internet, websites of official bodies, etc.

Depending on the physical register of the information, these sources might be:

• Textual: reference works, specialised magazines, journals, etc.

• Graphic: images, photographs, audiovisuals, etc., and they supplement written information.

• Electronic: websites and databases.

How do we search the information?

We can define the parameters of our search: we can do a keyword searches.

Keywords are a way of searching through subject/topic. Most library catalogues and databases will include an option to search by keyword and an alternative to author and title.

Searching by keyword can be very effective, it provides of selecting terms that accurately describe what we are looking for.

The title of our assignment/project, and our conceptual analysis of it , will give you your initial list of keywords.

How can we record our searches?

Recording our searches is a different activity from making notes on what you read, which we will do as well. Recording our searches enables you to have an audit trail of what you have done, and see what worked and what didn’t. You should make a note of:

• The main points of your search – its concepts and remit. • The search tools you used. • The search words, including synonyms, alternative words etc. • Search strings. • Results, including which were the most relevant.